valence electrons

Cultural  

1. In chemistry, those electrons found in orbits farthest from the nucleus of the atom. These electrons determine the way in which the atom will combine with other atoms, and thus determine its chemical properties.

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Example Sentences

At the center of the discovery is a carbene, a form of carbon with just six valence electrons.

From Science Daily • Apr. 11, 2026

They theorized that sodium's core electrons, thought to be inert, would interact with each other and the outer valence electrons when under extreme pressure.

From Science Daily • Dec. 29, 2023

Each combination yielded a different concentration of valence electrons within the material.

From Science Daily • Oct. 19, 2023

When atomic orbitals hybridize, the valence electrons occupy the newly created orbitals.

From Textbooks • Feb. 14, 2019

It readily gives up three of its five valence electrons to active nonmetals to form the tri-positive ion, Bi3+.

From Textbooks • Feb. 14, 2019